Not all Swiss cantons are equally exposed to America’s new tariff regime. Some—particularly those with close industrial or economic ties to the United States—stand to lose far more than others, reported RTS. Nidwalden tops the list of those most affected. Nearly half of its exports cross the Atlantic, largely thanks to Pilatus, the aircraft manufacturer […]
Anti-noise radar use blocked by Bern
Discontent over noisy vehicles is growing louder in Switzerland. Several cantons are calling for the nationwide deployment of noise-activated traffic radars. The devices, already tested in places such as Basel-Landschaft, Zurich and Geneva, are designed not to catch speeding drivers, but those making too much of a racket. In Geneva, the trials were deemed a […]
The West Nile Virus – how high is the risk in Switzerland?
Cases of West Nile virus are climbing in Italy. Since the start of the year, 173 infections have been confirmed, 84 of them in the past week alone, according to national health authorities. The Lazio region, which includes Rome, has been the hardest hit, accounting for 104 cases this year. Eleven deaths have been reported […]
Where Swiss fly during the summer travel peak
Summer is peak season for Swiss airports. But where are all those passengers headed? Data from 2024 reveal not only the most popular final destinations but also how preferences shift with geography, season, and language. Europe dominates. In 2024, 79% of passengers departing from Swiss airports flew to European destinations. The rest were split between […]
Two initiatives against wind farms surpass vote signature hurdle
Switzerland’s push for renewable energy has met with resistance. Late last week, a nature conservation group submitted two popular initiatives aimed at curbing the expansion of wind farms, reported RTS. Each has garnered over 110,000 signatures—above the 100,000 signature threshold required to trigger a nationwide vote. The first, dubbed the Forest Protection Initiative, seeks to […]
Switzerland burning more and more of its wood to heat
In Switzerland, more and more timber is being burned. According to the Federal Statistical Office, nearly half of all wood harvested from Swiss forests is now used for energy—twice the share recorded two decades ago. The proportion processed in sawmills for construction or carpentry has declined over the same period, falling from 70% in the […]
Swiss central bank hit by 15 billion franc loss
The Swiss National Bank (SNB) reported a first-half loss of CHF 15.3 billion, dragged down by foreign-currency positions that turned sharply negative in the second quarter. After posting a profit of CHF 6.7 billion in the first three months of the year, the central bank recorded a loss of CHF 22 billion between April and June—wiping out earlier […]
Switzerland to be hit with 39% Trump tariffs
Switzerland has found itself on the sharp end of Washington’s latest tariff barrage. On August 7th, a 39% levy on Swiss imports is set to take effect—one of the steepest rates imposed by the United States in a sweeping round of trade measures ordered by President Donald Trump. The tariffs follow the expiry of a […]
Swiss to launch open source Large Language Model
Switzerland’s federal institutes of technology—ETH Zurich and EPFL in Lausanne—have announced plans to launch a large language model (LLM) of their own. Unlike most of its peers, this one will be public, open-source and led by ethics and science. It is expected to be released later in 2025. Developed under the Swiss AI Initiative, launched […]
Staff abuse continues to rise on Swiss trains
Ticket inspectors in Switzerland are increasingly contending with more than fare dodgers, reported SRF. According to the Sonntagszeitung, the Federal Prosecutor’s Office convicted 20 passengers in the month to 10 July 2025 for threats, violence, insults and even exhibitionism. On the Swiss Federal Rail network, which carries around 1.39 million passengers daily, there are roughly […]
